Sheriff Golden: Monmouth Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security, OEM Steps Up Alert In Response To Boston Bombing

Monmouth County Sheriff’s Patrol At Seastreak’s Highlands Ferry Terminal. April 15, 2013. Photo by Art Gallagher. Click for full view.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said that his Law Enforcement Division, the Office of Emergency Management and homeland security personnel are on heightened alert as a precaution in response to the bombing at the Boston Marathon this afternoon.

There is no known specific threat in Monmouth County.

“We routinely patrol transit hubs like the ferry terminals and train stations, as well as they shopping malls, ” Golden said, “when an incident like what happened in Boston today occurs, we take additional precautions. We’ll be monitoring state and federal communications and be on heightened alert at least through tomorrow.  We have emergency response assets deployed throughout the county.”

Sheriff’s Office personnel will be meeting with the police departments of the communities that are hosting the May 5 New Jersey Marathon at the Shore to review security protocols, Golden added,

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Low turnout is a major risk for LD 13 incumbents

LD 13:Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Union Beach

The idea that State Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon could be defeated by their Tea Party challengers, Leigh-Ann Bellew for Senate and Edna Walsh and Stephen Boracchia for Assembly, in the June 4 primary is unthinkable, even laughable, to many Monmouth County Republicans.

But recent history and a look at the numbers indicate that an upset with statewide consequences could very well be in the making if the challenge is not taken seriously.

With only nominal competition in the governor’s race, voter turnout in the Republican primary on June 4 is likely to be very low.   Therein lies the danger for the incumbents. Even “good Republicans” rarely vote in primaries.  Even fewer if there is no perceived competition.

There are 34,216 registered Republicans in the 13th district. In the 2011 primary, the last time the legislature was on the ballot, only 2,274 Republicans voted.   The challengers know that.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Bayshore Tea Party Wants Bennett To Change The By-Laws

Still won’t reveal their primary candidates names

Bayshore Tea Party co-founder Bob Gordon told MoreMonmouthMusings that he would recommend that the groups’s candidates for the Legislature from the 13th district, sheriff and freeholder not file as candidates in the June 4 Republican primary if GOP Chairman John Bennett would allow the candidates onto the March 23 County Convention ballot without having to submit the signatures required under the new by-laws to challenge incumbents.  He would not guarantee that the so far unnamed challengers would abide by the results of the convention and not file for the primary if they lose in Colts Neck on the 23rd. “That would be up to the candidates,” he said.

Gordan said that county committee members inclined to support the Tea Party challengers are reluctant to sign convention petitions for fear that they will be challenged in the next committee election in 2014.

The deadline to submit petitions for the convention ballot passed last week.  Primary petitions are due on April 1.

Neither Gordon nor fellow co-founder Barbara Gonzalez would name the potential challengers.  Gordon said that there is a full slate of candidates to take on Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon in the 13th district. On the county level, Sheriff Shaun Golden faces a challenge while Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso may only have one challenger, if the candidates file.

Posted: March 12th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, Amy Handlin, Barbara Gonzalez, Bayshore Tea Party Group, Declan O'Scanlon, Joe Kyrillos, John Bennett, Monmouth County Republican Committee, Monmouth GOP, Shaun Golden | Tags: Amy Handlin, Barbara Gonzalez, Bayshore Tea Party Group, Bob Gordon, Declan O'Scanlon, Joe Kyrillos, John Bennett, Monmouth GOP, Monmouth Republicans, Serena DiMaso, Shaun Golden, Tom Arnone | 14 Comments »

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Monmouth County Establishes Donation Drop-off at Thompson Park in Middletown

Individuals and Business Invited to Drop-off Needed Items

LINCROFT, NJ – Monmouth County has established a donation site for desperately needed items to assist the victims affected by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The site has been set up at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road (Route 520) in Lincroft.

The donation center is located at the service entrance of the park. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to receive donated items.

Items needed include:

• Bottled Water

• Non perishable food

• Pet food

• New clothing

• Blankets

• Personal hygiene items including baby items

Thompson Park is a donation site only – no distribution will be made there. Items will be sorted and taken to three distribution sites in strategic areas in Monmouth County which will be announced as the items have arrived at those locations.

“This is a way for residents to help out during this time of need,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Through this process, donations from those who were fortunate during Hurricane Sandy can assist those who were less fortunate.”

For monetary donations, please use your preferred non-profit organization.

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Monmouth Court House Will Reopen Tomorrow. Bomb Threat Was An Apparent Hoax

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said that the K-9 search for explosives in the Court House this afternoon came up negative and that normal operations will resume tomorrow.

A male caller using a cell phone in Freehold Borough called 9-11 at 12:40 this afternoon and said that there were pipe bombs in the Court House that would explode this afternoon.

Investigators from the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor’s office are investigating the call.

Golden said there is no indication that the incident is in anyway related to the unsolved chemical/environmental event that closed the Court House for a week last June.

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Sheriff Shaun Golden Invited Me To A “Break Out”

I really could have used an invitation like that 10 weeks ago

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Golden: “Most Reasonable People” Are Complying With Evacuation Orders

Additional Shelters May Be Brought Online

By Art Gallagher

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told MMM that “most reasonable people” are complying with the voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders in Monmouth County due to Hurricane Irene.   Surfers are a notable exception.

“Surfers will be surfers,” said Golden, “We’re warning them that we will cease rescue operations with the gail force winds emerge.”

Golden said that the shelter at Holmdel High School had 160 people housed.  Almost 200 people were sheltered at Wall High School.  The county is coordinating with the Red Cross to open five addition shelters if needed.  Colts Neck High School will be one of the shelters.  The others will be announced via radio, through municipalities and on the county web site when and if they are about to be opened.

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State Investigating Double Dipping Sheriff’s Officers

By Art Gallagher

The Star Ledger is reporting that the Treasury Department has initiated an investigation into sheriff’s officers in Essex, Monmouth and Union counties who are collecting pensions from the state Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) while continuing to perform as law enforcement officers, but with civilian titles, allowing them to “double dip”….collect a pension and a salary for job that would not allow for collecting a pension if it were properly classified.

Only elected officials are supposed to be allowed to do that in New Jersey.

In addition to the Treasury Department probe, John Scierchio, chairman of the PFRS board of trustees, has asked the Attorney General’s Office to launch a criminal probe into three sheriff’s officers suspected of circumventing pension guidelines, according to the Star Ledger.

The three officers are Monmouth County undersheriff Mickey Donovan, formerly the chief warrant officer, Essex County chief warrant officer John Dough, and Union County sheriff’s chief Harold Gibson.

This issue was first raised publically regarding Donovan, who retired from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in 2005 and was hired as Monmouth’s chief warant officer by then Monmouth County Sheriff, now Lt. Governor, Kim Guadagno in 2008, last October by NJ Watchdog.

NJ Watchdog alleges that Guadagno, as Sheriff, eliminated the chief warrant officer position on September 16, 2008, but then gave Donovan that title a week later, even though he was hired in reality to be the chief law enforcement officer, so that he could collect a pension of $85,000 per year and a salary of $87,500 per year.

In a piece published on April 11, 2011, NJ Watchdog says that Donovan has improperly collected $227,000 in pension payments since 2008.  Additionally, he should have contributed $18,000 to the pension system, according to NJ Watchdog.

Guadagno declined to comment when MMM raised this issue with her when it became public in October.

Shaun Golden, then Acting Sheriff, told MMM in October that he had discussed Donovan’s employment status with state pension official months earlier and offered to make any changes they required.  There were no changes required at the time.  Golden said he told the officials that if they require changes in Monmoth County that they should also look into Essex and Union Counties.

Apparently they did.

Golden announced on February 15, 2011that Donovan was sworn in as undersheriff and is in charge of the law enforcement division.

Undersheriff is a civilian title, not a PFRS job, meaning Donovan, who now makes over $90,000, continues to collect his $85,000 pension.

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Even a broken clock is right twice a day

The Asbury Park Press endorsed Shaun Golden for Monmouth County Sheriff today.

They made a reasoned argument and had their facts straight. Their assessment of Golden strengths and his opponents weaknesses were on the mark.

I’d link you to the editorial, but they haven’t posted it on their website, as of 4:15 this afternoon.

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Dear Fellow Republicans, Over the past 8 months, Governor Christie has initiated and implemented sweeping fiscal reforms. Recently, he launched the “Christie Fall Reform Agenda” to address four key areas of government that need reform; Ethics Reform, Pension/Benefit Reforms, Economic Development, and Education Reforms to rethink, reform, and rebuild our state government. These reforms are critical to ensuring that New Jersey becomes a more affordable place to live and work. We need to elect fiscally conservative leaders at every level of government. Our county candidates, Sheriff Shaun Golden, Freeholder Rob Clifton and Freeholder candidate Tom Arnone have proven records of opposing higher taxes, cutting wasteful spending and responsible leadership. Shaun Golden for Sheriff Sheriff Shaun Golden, is an experienced law enforcement and public administration leader. Before becoming Sheriff he was a law enforcement officer for 18 years on the Colts Neck and Toms River Police Departments. Sheriff Golden also worked as a certified paramedic for MONOC, serving Monmouth and Ocean Counties, and was a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He holds a Masters Degree in Administration from Seton Hall University, is a NJ Certified Public Manager and an adjunct professor at Monmouth University. Sheriff Golden lives in Farmingdale with his wife Catherine, and their two children. Rob Clifton for Freeholder Freeholder Robert Clifton has served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders since 2004. He is currently the Deputy Director of the board and oversees Finance, Purchasing and Information Technology. He was the Mayor of Matawan Borough from 1996 until 2005. In Matawan he also served on the borough’s unified Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Board of Health and the Monmouth County Board of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Mr. Clifton is the Director of Government and Community Affairs at Comcast. He lives in Matawan with his wife Tracy and their two children. Tom Arnone for Freeholder Freeholder candidate Tom Arnone has served as the Mayor of Neptune City borough council since 1997 and been Mayor since 2004. During this time he served as Police Commissioner, Public Works Commissioner, Finance Chairperson and Director of the Office of Emergency Management. He also served as a member of the Land Use Board, the Planning Board, and on the Borough’s Environmental Commission. In 2009 Tom was named the Vice President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and was elected President in 2010. He has owned and operated a family business since 1983. Mayor Arnone lives in Neptune City with his wife Catherine and their teenaged daughter. The November 2nd 2010 election is rapidly approaching. Our county team needs your support and vote. They are fiscally conservative leaders who will help ensure that Governor Christie’s reforms are effectively implemented at the county level. To find out more or to get involved, visit our website at . Please cast your vote for Sheriff Shaun Golden and Rob Clifton and Tom Arnone for the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Together, we can ensure that Monmouth County remains a beautiful and affordable place to live, work and raise a family.www.monmouthrepublican.org Respectfully, Joseph W. Oxley Chairman, MCRC

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